Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-24
FRzMONT,s CHALLENGE TO MASON.

Most Californians are more or less IA
miliar with the particulars of the noted
duel between Broderick and Terry, which
grew out of the fierce passions aroused by
the bitter contest for political supremacy
between the two wings of the Democratic
party in the earlier times of California, but
not so many. nor probably all readers of
the RECORD UNION, have heard the chal-
lenge that almost eliminated in duel be-
California Just as she passed to the control
of the United States. Had this earlier duel
been fought the chances were that promi
nent man would have been killed, and, by
his DEATH the person, who has since come 10
be regarded as hero of great romantic in
terest, would never have entered the United
States Senate, nor have become. the candidate
of one of the great parties for the Presidency.
The quarrel, therefore, was, as it were,
pivot on which balanced for a time the
course of the political history of the United
States.
The events which led TO the challenge
are admirably presented, in spirit Of fair
ness and good judgment, by the historian,
h H. Bancroft, in the fifth volume of his
history of California. While this State was
Vet u htAlCdu pIONluCc, ETcIuOuL cHtclco
the country with his troop of explorers,
and he was more or less connected with
the hostile movements of the Americans
which preceded the conquest. After the
flag of the United States was raised and
Commodore Stockton had come to the head
of affairs, he appointed Fremont as Gov
ernor of California. But when General
Kearny reached this coast, with instruc-
tons from Washington which authorized
him to assume military and political con-
troll, a conflict of authority arose between
him and Fremont, which threatened, for a
time, to lead to serious difficulty. Kearny,
however, soon received additional instruc-
tons. which fully established his authority,
and he thereupon appointed Mason Gov
ernor of California, giving Fremont orders
to disband his volunteer troops and to re-
port at Monterey.
Having been thus arbitrarily deposed,
Fremont was naturally irritated, and felt
little disposed to submit cheerfnlly to his
supplanter. Fremont arrived in Los Angeles
in the last OF March, 1916 and Mason came
to the same place about week later.
Several interviews were held between Ere
mont and Mason, and at the meetings
Cooke was present by the request of Mason.
Cooke had been appointed military COM
mander of Southern California by General
Kearny. Little is known of these meetings
except that they were not friendly, and
that Fremont deemed himself insulted by
Cookies presence as witness.
On the 18th of April Mason called for a
list of all of Fremont's civil appointments
and for all his records, civil and military.
The list and a few papers were furnished
next day, accompanied by the statement
that the main record had been forwarded
to Washington. The growing hostility be-
tween the two men was brought to CHI
max by the manner in which Fremont
was ordered TO bring in band of horses
that had been sent out to Craze in the
country preparatory to their further use by
the explorers. Mason had to send twice
before Fremont would come to his quar-
tiers to answer certain questions about the
horses. When at length Fremont did
come he used language that caused Mason
to say, None of your insOlence or / will
put you in irons" And the information
was given that the Governor would hold
himself responsible for these words. FIRE.
mont, thereupon, returned to his quarters,
and Immediately sent Major Reading with
a demand for an apology; on refusal
being given to this, a challenge was sent.
The challenge was accepted by verbal
agreement with Reading on the same even
ing, and double barrelled shotguns were
named as the weapons.
1t has been claimed that the choice of
this unusual weapon indicated a deliberate
purpose on Mason's part of drawing chal-
lenge from Fremont with The intention of
killing him, as Mason was remarkably
skillful with this gun. But Mr.. Bancroft
does not accept this theory, although he
says that the choice of the shotgun reflected
little credit upon Mason, and that in many
respects Fremont shows 10 better advan-
tage in this affair than his rival.
On the day after the challenge Mason
sent a note, announcing that the affair
would have to be postponed until the par
| ties could meet at Monterey, and he started
for that place few days later.
When the affair became known to Gen
eral Kearny, he issued positive orders,
which prevented hostile meeting 1t has
been asserted by Senator Benton, of Mis-
souri,, and others that there was collusive
attempt, indicated by letters of Kearny,
Mason and Biddle, to bring about this re-
suit, and thus to extricate Mason from the
affair. But this does not appear on the
face of the facts, and it is worthy Of note
that Kearnys duty, by the rules of war,
was TO arrest both parties, and his act of
postponing the duel in a written order
places him in a peculiar position. After FIRE.
mont reached Monterey he is said to have
visited Mason's quarters, in order to make
his presence known, and to have declined
an invitation to be seated.
The affair, thus cut short. was renewed
later, in 1850, by letter sent by Mason,
saying that Fremont who was then Sen
ator at Washington, could have satisfaction
by coming to st. Louis; but no attention
was paid 10 the letter, and the matter was
finally ended by Masons death little